LABOUR called on employers to give staff paid time off to get inoculated against Covid-19 as seven vaccination centres opened across England today.

Deputy leader Angela Rayner wrote to the “big five” business groups to request that they ease the process of workers getting the jab.

The letter was sent to the Confederation of Business Industry, the British Chamber of Commerce, Federation of Small Businesses, the Institute of Directors and MakeUK. 

She called on them to allow staff time to escort vulnerable relatives to appointments, support staff in signing up as NHS volunteers to help in the vaccine roll-out and using firms’ platforms to promote the vaccine and combat anti-vax misinformation.